Labour Party vs NLC: Abure-led LP warns Joe Ajaero against threats to offices, calls NLC’s actions illegal and vows legal resistance

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Labour Party leadership, under Julius Abure, has issued a strong warning to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, over alleged plans to mobilise attacks on the party’s offices nationwide.

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In a statement released on Tuesday evening, the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, accused Ajaero of intimidation and blackmail, warning that any attempt to resort to violence would be met with legal and political resistance.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored that threat,” Ifoh said, “but there is need to assure our teeming members of our commitment to keep the faith and resist all forms of rascality and intimidation from persons who think themselves to be above the laws of the land.”

Ifoh insisted that the recent Supreme Court ruling did not dissolve or question the legitimacy of the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC), contrary to claims by Ajaero and his allies.

He stated that the apex court reaffirmed its position that internal party affairs are not within judicial purview, and therefore, the current leadership remains valid and constitutional.

He explained that the party’s executive, elected in 2019 and whose tenure was extended in 2023 with NLC participation, conducted a national convention in March 2024. This, he asserted, was in line with the party’s constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act.

Dismissing recent attempts to convene what he called an “unauthorised NEC meeting” in Umuahia and similar plans for another gathering in Abuja, Ifoh stated such moves are “null and void” and not recognised by the party.

The party also revisited a 2024 incident in which NLC members reportedly broke into the national headquarters and carted away property.

“That matter was reported to the police,” he said, alleging that the recent threats were again leaked by concerned NLC insiders.

Calling Ajaero’s methods “hooliganism and rascality,” Ifoh accused the NLC president of politicising the union and abandoning workers’ welfare.

“He is no longer fit to occupy that exalted office,” the statement read. “We have once advised him to quit unionism and join politics, but he will not listen.”

Ifoh also emphasised that NLC has no legal grounds to invade or picket Labour Party offices, as there is no existing trade dispute.

“In any case, we do not have any NLC staff in our employment,” he added. “There is no union in our offices. Their action is purely an illegality.”

He concluded with a warning: “Let it be known that we will take every legal means to deal with Ajaero and his gangsters should they attempt to resort to self-help.

We will not hesitate to write to the Registrar of Trade Unions to discipline them. And where security agencies are defied, we will mobilise our members across the nation to resist them.”

Also read: Supreme Court sacks Abure as Labour Party chairman

The deepening rift between the Labour Party and the NLC highlights the growing tension between political and labour leadership in Nigeria, raising concerns about the intersection of unionism and partisan politics ahead of future electoral contests.